Some Washington County residents perplexed by recycling bins appearing at homes

May 16, 2012|By CALEB CALHOUN | caleb.calhoun@herald-mail.com

Halfway resident Tim Rohrer, 32, did not hide his displeasure with curbside-recycling bins when asked on Wednesday.

“I think it’s ridiculous that they get rid of things like that around town,” Rohrer said. “Now we have to pay for it.”

Rohrer, who lives at 11017 Coffman Ave., was among the residents in Halfway and north of Hagerstown who talked about the new recycling program launched by Allied Waste.

Allied Waste distributed bins this week after sending out postcards earlier this month giving residents a chance to opt out of the program.

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Although he never received a postcard, Rohrer said he eventually will opt out of the program.

“I already use Waste Management,” he said.

At 34 houses approached byThe Herald-Mailin the area on Wednesday, 21 people answered the door.

Three people said they had opted out of the program, and 18 said they did not opt out. Of the 18 who did not opt out, three said they never received the postcard, and nine said they plan to opt out eventually.

In Halfway, 15 people answered the door of the 22 houses approached. Three people said they opted out of the program, and of those, one said she received a bin anyway. Twelve people said they did not opt out and received the bins. Of the 12 that did not opt out, two said they never received the postcard, and four said they plan to opt out eventually.

Elizabeth Hill of 10815 Coffman Ave. said she is fine with the new program.

“It’s a service that’s got to be provided one way or the other,” she said. “It’s also worthwhile. The county has to prioritize and may have to focus on other things.”

Bobby Rhea, 78, of 10810 Coffman Ave. said she opted out of the program because she already has somebody take away her recycling.

“I don’t like how people leave them in front of the house,” she said. “It just doesn’t look good.”

Residents north of Hagerstown near the airport also received bins. Of 12 houses approached there Wednesday, six people answered the door. All of them said they did not opt out. However, five said they would eventually opt out, and one person said she never received a postcard.

Amy Paules, 34, of 18801 Marilew Court said she will eventually opt out because she does not recycle.

“It should be free if it’s to help the environment,” she said. “I also think they should’ve sent out a letter instead of a postcard because lots of times people just throw away postcards.”

Tammy Frey, 32, of 18805 Marilew Court, who did receive a postcard, said she will be opting out.

“They just dropped the bin off and left,” she said. “We didn’t even know what they were for.”